A popular Devon Hospice has spoken candidly about its "struggling" finances and revealed it actually made a £500,000 loss last year.

North Devon Hospice, based at Deer Park in Barnstaple, say a further drop in funding will lead to less available care and could have "devastating consequences" for many local families.

The hospice's chief executive, Stephen Roberts, made the revelation as part of the national Hospice Care Week, which runs from October 9 to 16.

This annual event offers a chance to raise awareness of the services provided by hospices and dispel common myths about what hospice care is all about.

North Devon Hospice chief executive Stephen Roberts

Stephen says one such myth is that the charity is always able to raise sufficient funds to provide the care needed locally.

“As a local charity, it is a fact that we are struggling.” he said.

“Every year more and more people need the support of the hospice, as sadly there is an increase in the number of people affected by life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, MND, lung disease and heart failure.

"While our doctors, nurses, counsellors and therapists do an amazing job providing the most outstanding care, we are struggling to raise the necessary funds to make that all possible.”

He added, “When speaking to the community about the work of the hospice, there is a myth that we are tremendously well supported financially.

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"People say, ‘Oh, you’re the hospice, you’ll always be OK.’ But I can tell you now, that with the current trend of more care being needed and less money being donated, we will not be OK.”

Last financial year, the North Devon Hospice posted a deficit of around £500,000 due to a "substantial drop in donations as well as gifts in wills".

While the charity was able to sustain that hit for one year due to previous financial prudence, Stephen says it is not sustainable for the future.

Stephen hopes this "shock" figure will inspire people to take action.

He said: “If people believe the myth that the hospice will always be OK, or that their support is better directed elsewhere, we will not be able to provide the care this community needs in the future.

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"We care for thousands of people every year through the toughest of times, and with a stretched local NHS and reduced public services, our care will be more vital than ever going forward.

"But we can’t fulfil our charitable mission of being there for all the family without the support of our whole community.”

Stephen said he wanted to ensure people were aware that North Devon Hospice is a local charity, not just in the fact that all of care is dedicated to the local community, but that North Devon Hospice’s ability to fundraise is limited to North Devon too.

“Raising funds is a constant struggle. We need to work extremely hard because there is a small population here and, unlike other charities who can fundraise across the whole of Devon and further afield, we are only able to raise funds from the North Devon population.” he said.

“There is a simple equation which means that less money raised equals less care provided. I know for so many local families that would have devastating consequences.

"I think back to a time earlier this year when all of the patients that we were caring for on our Bedded Unit were all under 45 years old.

"To think of the trauma those young families were going through, and to think that someday we might not be able to support them, truly made me sad.

“So please, if you are able to support those we are caring for, I’d encourage you to visit the North Devon Hospice website and sign up for a small monthly donation.

“For the price of a cup of coffee per month, you will be helping local people get the care they need during the toughest of times. We are proud and privileged to be here for North Devon, but only because of North Devon.”

For more information about the care provided by North Devon Hospice, or to make a donation towards the charity’s work, visit www.northdevonhospice.org.uk .